The Mukinbudin Act-Belong-Commit Spring Festival started as a small event in 1997 and has, each year, grown in size and status.
Now in its 19th year, the theme for the upcoming festival is ‘From Beach to Bush’ in hope of attracting the crowds from Perth and surrounds to step out of their comfort zone and experience a bit of what the red dirt has to offer.
The festival is held on the second weekend of September each year so as to coincide with wildflower season and by that time all the crops in the region will be looking healthy.
The Shire of Mukinbudin supports this event every year, both in kind and financially, and understands its importance in helping to stimulate both the local economy and the tourism around the area.
Council donates $20,000 each year, which funds the employment of a much-needed festival coordinator.
This year the coordinator is former Muka-ite and Curtin University Fine Arts Student, Amber Norrish.
She has brought a bit of youth into the role and has put a new spin on it by using the festival as an opportunity to celebrate the perks of living in a small, close-knit, rural town.
She has also made it her focus to capture the vibrant Muka community spirit that keeps her, and many other ex-locals, coming back.
The Shire also donates the use of buildings, equipment, and labour for the cause.
The Memorial Town Hall is used for the Arts Exhibition each year, an event that exposes the community to quality pieces of art, which are later available for purchase.
The main event on Saturday is held at the Football Oval and Sports Complex, and includes market stalls, live music, fireworks and the premiere of the dry boat race, a first for the festival this year.
Council’s outside work staff and local volunteers set all of this up and take it down after the festival.
Bringing all these elements together at one event allows all sections of the community to engage with each other in a social setting, providing a much needed break from the busy, and at times stressful, farming culture.
The Mukinbudin Act-Belong-Commit Spring Festival runs from 10th–12th September 2015.
